Ronnie O’Sullivan still in second gear in World Championship start but Luca Brecel the man to beat at the Crucible, says Jimmy White
By Alex Livie
Published 27/04/2025 at 20:01 GMT+1
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The World Championship is starting to take shape and Ronnie O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel have caught the eye of Jimmy White and Alan McManus. While White feels O’Sullivan can only improve, he thinks Brecel’s current level of form makes him the favourite. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.
'Typical Luca' - Brecel dazzles with two stunning plants
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jimmy White feels Ronnie O’Sullivan is still in second gear, but he thinks on current form, Luca Brecel is "almost impossible to beat" at the World Championship.
O’Sullivan and Brecel powered on in the second session of their World Championship matches on Sunday, and are one frame from the quarter-finals.
They will return on Monday evening, with Brecel leading 12-4 over Ding Junhui and O’Sullivan holding the same advantage over Pang Junxu.
O’Sullivan has two tons to his name, but has been efficient rather than dazzling in working his lead.
Brecel has the same number of centuries in his clash with Ding, but has at times produced snooker of the highest order.
The Belgian, who won the title two years ago, has made a huge impression on White and Alan McManus.
"If he plays the way that he has, I would go as far as to say he is maybe even the favourite," McManus said on TNT Sports. "It is a brand of snooker no one can compete with, not even Judd Trump.
"We talked about mavericks and that is what we are getting from Luca."
White is also impressed with how Brecel has approached the tournament.
"He played seven frames which were unbelievable, top-drawer snooker," White said. "The way he plays is all attacking, and it puts opponents under pressure.
"The way Luca played there, if he carries on playing like that, he is almost impossible to beat."
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McManus is unsure of the level O’Sullivan could reach in his bid for an eighth world title.
"It was not his best stuff, but there were touches," McManus said of O’Sullivan’s second session against Pang. "A lot of it was good, but not vintage.
"We must also remember, he was 10-4 against Carter and is 12-4 in this one, so is brushing his way through this championship without showing form, so I don’t know whether that is a good or a bad sign."
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'Playing all the shots' - O'Sullivan makes 212th century of his Crucible career
Video credit: TNT Sports
White was impressed with how O’Sullivan approached his second session.
"He is always going to be good in the balls," White said. "I think he is still trying to find something, but his composure was very good. He looked a lot more composed and all the shots are there."
O’Sullivan is looking to join fellow 'Class of 92' members Mark Williams and John Higgins in the quarter-finals at the Crucible.
"It is just crazy, they are just so good," White said. "Williams was fantastic, Higgins under pressure at 12-12 produced the goods, and O’Sullivan, for me, has not got out of second gear yet. He can only improve."
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Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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